On November 20th, Kewpie Corporation and Future Design Shibuya held the first study session for the "SHIBUYA Urban Farming Project" at Fukaya Terrace Yasai na Nakamatachi Farm in Saitama Prefecture.
This time, the theme was "agricultural experience," and harvesting experiences and food and agriculture lectures were held.
Overview of the SHIBUYA Urban Farming Project and an introduction to the Fukaya Terrace Yasai Nakamatachi Farm facilities
At the beginning, Mr. Tsuzuki from Kewpie Corporation shared an overview and progress of the SHIBUYA Urban Farming Project, followed by a greeting from Mr. Shibasaki from Fukaya Vegetable Communication Co., Ltd., which runs the Fukaya Terrace Yasai na Nakamatachi Farm.
About the establishment of Yasai Nakamatachi Farm and the appeal of Yasai
Yasai na Nakamatachi Farm was founded by Matsumura in 2012 after he applied to Kewpie's internal new business recruitment program "Try! Kewpie" (now renamed "Kewpie Startup Program") and was accepted. After 10 years of development, the farm opened in May 2022.
Finding land to maintain the concept of combining an experiential farm with a restaurant and market was difficult, but by working closely with the local government and overcoming numerous obstacles such as location issues and coordination with the local government, they continued to forge ahead with their vision. They told us how they ended up opening in Fukaya.
In the course on the appeal of vegetables, the students learned about seasonal vegetables and discovered that the bitterness of bell peppers can be reduced by the egg yolk protein in mayonnaise, reaffirming that vegetables can be enjoyed if you use creative methods to eat them.
Finally, the harvest experience
The weather was unfortunate on the day, but fortunately it didn't rain and we were able to have a harvesting experience.We harvested a variety of seasonal vegetables, including arugula, leaf lettuce, green onions, and carrots.
We also had banana peppers, which are banana-shaped peppers that turn yellow when ripe, and we ate them raw whole.We made many new discoveries and it was a harvesting experience with smiles on our faces from start to finish.
An unexpected discovery during the mayonnaise-making experience
They learned about mayonnaise emulsification, its nutrients, and how well it goes with vegetables. In the mayonnaise-making experience, participants worked together in pairs to make mayonnaise.
The main ingredients needed to make mayonnaise are vinegar, egg yolks, and vegetable oil. Depending on how you mix it, the state of the emulsion changes, and the color and consistency also vary.
In addition to comparing homemade mayonnaise with industrially produced mayonnaise, participants also tried mixed mayonnaise. The mayonnaise was mixed with grapefruit ponzu sauce, ketchup, sauce, curry powder, and orange marmalade. Many participants said they liked the orange marmalade, which they thought was a bit unusual.
Learning about agriculture
Mr. Serizawa, CEO of Plantio Inc., a startup based in Shibuya, Tokyo, which was founded by Cellon Kogyo, the inventor of the "planter," spoke about urban farming around the world, the difference between agriculture and agricultural activities, the history of agriculture, and its relationship to community formation.
Finally, the participants gave some brief comments, with many expressing their expectations for future efforts in the SHIBUYA Urban Farming Project.
The SHIBUYA Urban Farming Project was just launched this year. Going forward, we will enlist the help of participating companies and local residents to promote activities that participants can take part in with a smile on their face.
Overview
Date: November 20, 2024
Location: Fukaya Terrace Yasai Nakamatachi Farm
Participating companies: ABC Sustain Table Co., Ltd. AoiPro. Co., Ltd. Aohata Co., Ltd. Daiko Co., Ltd. Tokyu Real Estate Co., Ltd. Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd.Daikin HVAC Solution Tokyo Co., Ltd. Plantio Co.,Ltd. Kewpie Corporation Future Design Shibuya Association
What is SHIBUYA Urban Farming Project?
We have been thinking about what we can do as city dwellers, and we are supporting the establishment of farms in Shibuya Ward, collaborating with local groups to carry out food education activities, and holding events that local residents can participate in. Through urban farming, we aim to promote urban greening and biodiversity, while forming a community that is unique to Shibuya and realizing a new food culture.
https://fds.or.jp/shibuya-urban-farming-project/
